Introduction
The fight against corruption remains a major challenge for African countries, and one that can only really be met if wrongdoing is revealed and denounced. A number of cases, particularly corruption, have come to light thanks to whistleblowers in Africa: The Dos Santos affair thanks to the Luanda Leaks in Angola, or the Lumumba Papers in the DRC. The Platform for the Protection of Whistleblowers in Africa currently provides protection and legal support for African whistleblowers.
Revealing Wrongdoing
A whistleblower is a very American concept. A whistleblower is anyone who exposes and provides evidence of obvious mismanagement, flagrant waste of funds, abuse of power, or a significant and specific danger to public health and safety. Individuals can therefore report threats or harm to the public interest in the context of their employment relationship, whether in the public or private sector. This option is linked to transparency, good governance, and the rule of law.
Facing Death Threats
Whistleblowers are not immune from reprisals. Whistleblowers take risks when they make reports. This can range from losing one’s job to physical harm or even death. According to Congolese whistleblower Jean-Jacques Lumumba, now a refugee in France, his revelations earned him ‘death threats’. In other words, whistleblowing is an extremely difficult battle that requires a legal framework to ensure protection.
Insufficient Protection for African Whistleblowers
The only African countries with specific whistleblower protection laws are Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Uganda. Civil society organisations such as Transparency International are also taking steps to protect and support whistleblowers. This is the case, for example, of the whistleblowers’ houses in Madagascar. Indeed, whistleblowers must be afforded protection insofar as they are exposed to a thousand dangers on the front of freedom of expression and human rights.
Conclusion
The protection of whistleblowers must be based on democratic principles, including transparency, accountability, and the fight against corruption. Just as they take risks on behalf of the general interest and against their own interests. As a concept that is still unknown to a large part of society, it is now necessary to raise awareness of their role.
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/irina-francia-randrianasolo-44a48b205
